How to Do it With Marshalltown Tools

Masonry Tips and Techniques
Header Course

If a thicker wall is desired, you can build one with two or more tiers. In so doing, you must lay a header course at regular intervals to tie the tiers together. Every fifth, sixth, or seventh course should be a header course. First, lay down a mortar bed across both tiers; then lay the bricks in the opposite direction of your original courses.

The vertical joints will be formed by placing mortar on the side of each brick and butting the mortared side against the previous brick as you lay the course. If you find it necessary to cut bricks to fit small spaces, place the brick on a solid surface and score the brick on all sides using a brick chisel and hammer. Then set the brick on edge, place the chisel on the score, and hit it sharply. The brick should cut squarely.

All joints must be tooled before the mortar sets. The concave joint is simplest to make by using the joint tool to form the joint and compress the mortar.

When your wall is finished, do not attempt to clean it immediately. Wait at least a week; then scrub it with a solution of hydrochloric acid diluted in water. One part hydrochloric acid to 10 parts water. Rinse the bricks immediately removing all traces of acid.